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Abstract Detail


Systematics Section

Gonzalez, Favio [1], Garzon, Javier [1], Velez, Jorge [1].

Burmeistera (Campanulaceae) revisited: A taxonomic account based on the Colombian species.

After the cosmopolitan Lobelia L. (c 405 species), and the neotropical Siphocampylus Pohl (c 231 species) and Centropogon C. Presl. (c 212 spp.), Burmeistera (c 100 spp.) is the fourth largest genus of the Lobelioideae (Campanulaceae). The genus was erected by J. J. Triana in 1854, based on B. ibaguensis. Molecular and morphological characters indicate that Burmeistera is monophyletic, unlike the related Centropogon, Lobelia, and Syphocampylus, which have shown to be polyphyletic. The only infrageneric classification of Burmeistera, based on the presence or absence of a tuft of hairs on the ventral anthers, is in conflict with molecular data. The species of Burmeistera are herbs, subshrubs or sometimes shrubs up to 5 m tall, with whitish to yellow (sometimes red) bat-pollinated flowers. Most species have restricted distribution in low to high elevation (200 to 3000 m) cloud forests in Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru and Ecuador. We revisited the taxonomy of the genus based on the study of the 47 Colombian species, thirty of which are exclusive to this country. Most Colombian species (c 80%) are restricted to the Western and the Central cordilleras, which could be related to a preference for volcanic soils. We described six new species, proposed twelve new synonyms, and clarified the nomenclatural and taxonomic issues related to the type species of the genus. Furthermore, we designated lectotypes for B. ceratocarpa Zahlbr., B. ibaguensis, and B. rivina E. Wimm., as well as a neotype for B. mutisiana (Kunth) E. Wimm. A careful examination of the hair tuft in the ventral anthers during floral development shows that this diagnostic character needs to be studied in preanthesis, as these hairs shrivel during anthesis. The presence of this hair tuft in the ventral anthers could be plesiomorphic in Burmeistera, as it is also present in the related genera Centropogon, Lobelia, and Syphocampylus. We propose the ebracteate peduncle as a potentially phylogenetically informative character within Burmeistera.

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1 - National University of Colombia, Institute of Natural Sciences, Apartado 7495, Bogota, Colombia

Keywords:
Burmeistera
Lobelioideae
Campanulaceae
Centropogon
Siphocampylus
Flora of Colombia.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 27
Location: Lindell A/Chase Park Plaza
Date: Tuesday, July 12th, 2011
Time: 11:15 AM
Number: 27011
Abstract ID:692


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